> This isn't Linux. People don't normally "kernel hack" OS X and rebuild > their kernels. I suppose if you really wanted to, you could hunt down > the Darwin source code and build a custom kernel with it. You'd > probably be missing some key functionality, though, because I believe > Apple kept quite a few proprietary bits to themselves.
Sure they do. Custom kernels exist for ALL x86 versions of MacOS X. I am presently running mach_kernel_non-atom on my Shuttle SP35 which has a Pentium 4 541 processor. This proc supports EM64T and hyper-threading, but not SSE4. With mach_kernel_non-atom, I can run any version of Snow Leopard as this kernel is based upon the SL kernel which Apple is REQUIRED to deposit in the open source repository. SL believes I am running on a 3.2 GHz Core Solo, and SL is perfectly happy with that. I am presently running mach_kernel_atom.10.7.1 on my Supermicro Atom 330 Server. This proc also supports EM64T and H-T and also SSE4, but not certain features which make it a Core 2 Duo. With mach_kernel_atom.10.7.1, Lion and Server Lion believe they are running on a 1.6 Ghz Core 2 Duo. Others have hacked the kernels for older procs, and even for non-Intel procs. MacOS X kernel hacking is alive and well, just as OS hacking was alive and well in System/360 OS/360 (1965) through z/System z/OS (currently). -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
